Suit

The history of the suit

A suit consists of a blazer and a pair of pants made from the same fabric. A suit is the outfit that separates a man from a boy, gives him character and shows masculinity. If you want to learn more about the history of the suit, its functionalities and how to style it with a modern and casual look, we encourage you to read on.

History of the suit

A suit is a formal type of clothing and is derived from the late 19th century. Men wanted more comfortable garments, because they weren’t satisfied with the comfort when they for example rode on their horses. Their regular clothes at that time were made of a much stiffer fabric, which didn’t help on the comfort. In their search for a comfortable garment, more men began to wear a suit, and now it is synonymous with elegant men’s clothing. In the beginning a suit consisted of a blazer, pants and a waistcoat – a three-piece suit. You still see this today, but more often the waistcoat is absent and only the blazer and pants are used.

When you’re thinking a suit you cannot avoid associating with Savile Row in London – home for some of the most famous tailors in the world and an epicenter for the suit and its current style, even though it’s termed classic now. A tailored suit is not for everybody because it’s very expensive, especially from Savile Row. They stick to “ready to wear” suits and get a tailor to make small adjustments to get the perfect fit. It is possible to get your suit adjusted at Bertoni. You just have to contact one of our stores and they’ll take care of the rest. This type of acquiring a suit started in the beginning of the 20th Century where Burton’s launched their “ready to wear” suits. After the 2nd world war all UK servicemen were given a suit from Burton’s, and around 1950 one in every five men wore a Burton’s suit.

Functionality and etiquette

A suit can have 3 different cuts – an Italian, a British, and an American cut. The cut decides how the blazer and pant fit on the body. An Italian cut has a narrow silhouette and fits tight on the body. Often a suit with an Italian cut is made from lighter fabric. The British cut in known from Savile Row and its tailors. It’s tight, but not as tight as an Italian cut. In addition, you often see a waistcoat in a suit with a British cut. In the beginning an American suit were baggier and had a softer silhouette than the other cuts. Lately it has been tailored to a narrower fit, but is still the widest of the three.

It can be tricky to see the different cut apart if you don’t have a trained eye, and nowadays it’s not a matter of location or geography but rather a question about style and personal preferences. The cut in a Bertoni suit is young, comfortable, and following international trends. But we assure you that we have a suit which fits you. The blazers are available in both single- and double-breasted, and you can read more about the history of the blazer.

How to style your Bertoni Suit

A safe choice for a suit is always to pair it with a shirt and a tie, and it will be appropriate for most occasions, expect the most formal events where a smoking is required. You can also get a casual look in a suit if you use it with a turtleneck instead of shirt and tie. You’ll be free from the tight look that a tie gives, but you’ll still have the elegance a suit provides.

Find your new Bertoni Suit

Are you on the look-out for a new suit or maybe even your first suit? At Bertoni, we have a great selection of suits, and you can see the selection at our online shop or at one of our stores where you will meet our knowledgeable staff ready to guide you to your new suit.